Nursery World - Death of Eamonn O'Kane

Eamonn O'Kane, general secretary of the second-largest teachers' union, the NASUWT, died of cancer last weekend at the age of 58 after a long illness. He was born in Northern Ireland and worked in Belfast as a teacher for 20 years before becoming NASUWT deputy director general in 1989, then took over as the union's head only two years ago. The Professional Association of Teachers' general secretary, Jean Gemmell, paid tribute, saying, 'Eamonn really was a champion of the teaching profession. He was a hard negotiator on behalf of his own membership and the whole profession, but also a kind and courteous man with a style which we could all well emulate.'

He was born in Northern Ireland and worked in Belfast as a teacher for 20 years before becoming NASUWT deputy director general in 1989, then took over as the union's head only two years ago. The Professional Association of Teachers' general secretary, Jean Gemmell, paid tribute, saying, 'Eamonn really was a champion of the teaching profession. He was a hard negotiator on behalf of his own membership and the whole profession, but also a kind and courteous man with a style which we could all well emulate.'

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